Allied Pilots Association strengthens resolve to stop Norwegian Air

On April 15 the US Department of Transport granted tentative approval for Norwegian Air International’s permit that would allow it to fly both to and from the US in direct competition with US carriers. However, that decision was then opened up to public scrutiny and the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents over 15,000 American Airlines pilots as a collective bargaining agent, has become one of the loudest voices in opposition to the granting of the permit.
The House has introduced a bill, H.R. 5090, which is emphasizing the need for compliance with 17 bis of the US-European Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement which stipulates: “opportunities created by the Agreement are not intended to undermine labour standards or the labour-related rights and principles contained in the Parties’ respective laws” and that “these principles…shall guide the Parties as they implement the Agreement.” APA are seeking strong support for the bill.
APA President, Capt. Keith Wilson is quoted as saying: “We applaud Representatives Peter DeFazio, Frank LoBiondo, Rick Larsen and Lynn Westmoreland for sponsoring H.R.5090. By doing so, they’ve stood up for fair competition and drawn the line against labor forum shopping.
“Norwegian Air International — an Irish subsidiary that won’t serve Ireland and hires most of its crews in Thailand through a Singapore-based recruitment firm — is a blatant flag-of-convenience scheme, pure and simple.
“APA urges lawmakers to support this bill and do what must be done to preserve open markets and fair play among airlines that fly trans-Atlantic routes.”